Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
ABOUT 150 hectares of maize is now a complete write off due to power cuts at Arda Ingwizi Estate for the past six weeks, the estate’s manager, Samuel Nyajeka, has said.
Nyajeka said the rains that were received recently had helped to salvage the rest of crop on the 600 hectare maize field.
He said about 20 power lines that were destroyed by heavy rains in Mangwe and Kezi areas recently were yet to be fixed.
“We had not anticipated that we would experience six weeks of disruption in power and as a result we did not have any alternative source of power to use in watering the crop. 150 hectares of the crop is now a write off and we could have recorded more damage but the rains came to our rescue.
“At the time when we received rains, the 150 hectares was already in a bad state. For the past one month and two weeks we have only had power for about two hours only,” said Nyajeka.
He said maize harvesting was expected to start in May and after that winter wheat planting would start.
Mangwe MP Obedingwa Mguni, who is also a Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, said the area was constantly experiencing power disruptions that were affecting irrigation activities.
“The estate has a total of 600 hectares under maize crop. A recent visit to the estate has shown that 150 hectares is now a complete write off. During a visit by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month, some of the maize crop was in a critical state as the area had gone for two weeks without power.
“This power disruption went for a further one month which has now translated to a month and two weeks. The explanation we are getting is that pole lines are down,” said Mguni.
He said such power disruptions were unacceptable especially if they affected crucial agricultural projects which are key in fulfilling the Zim Asset goals.
He said Ingwizi estate power disruptions were being reported at Zesa offices in Gwanda and staff there were taking long to respond.
Mguni said there was a need for the administration of the area to be transferred to the Zesa office in Plumtree, which was closer.